Can Co-op Buyers Order Inspections?

It’s common for homebuyers to hire an inspector or an engineer before the sale becomes final, to make sure that the roof is sound and the boiler works and the toilets flush down. But what about a buyer in a co-op?

A c-op is different, real estate lawyer Lior Aldad, tells the Ask Real Estate column in the New York Times. Shareholders do not own the roof or the boiler; the corporation does. For the most part, the shareholder is responsible for maintaining what’s inside the apartment’s walls, while the co-op is responsible for maintaining the building.

For this reason, co-op inspections by shareholders are uncommon. Instead, most buyers conduct a walk-through of the apartment with their broker, checking appliances and outlets to make sure everything works. There are times, however, when an inspection is a good idea – if the apartment has an outdoor terrace, for example, says Lisa Fitzig, an associate broker with Corcoran. And if a previous owner renovated the apartment, a buyer might want the work inspected – since co-op boards are generally not responsible for maintaining elements that have been modified.